Engine



Dec. 10, 1935. E A ET 2,023,535

ENGINE Filed Oci. 5, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 fig;

. INVENTORS. Roy 5. Maya By James Dav es ATTOR EY.

Dec. 10, 1935. t R. ELIMAYO ET AL ENGINE Filed Oct. 3 1953 3Sheets-Sheet 2 llllllll INVENTORS. Roy E. Mayo BY James &v

- ATTOR EY.

Dec. 10, 1935. R E AY ETAL 2,923,535

ENGINE Fi led Oct. 3, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet} Roy E Ndyo By James N. DawesEE-' ATTORW Patented Dec. 10, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ENGINE ofCalifornia Application October 3, 1933, Serial No. 691,930

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to internal com- I bustion engines, andmore particularly to the provision of a, lubricating system therefor.

It is an object of the invention to provide a 6 simple, inexpensive andreliable lubricating system for an internal combustion engine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a positive lubricatingsystem for an internal combustion engine which eliminates the usuallubri- 10 cant pump and bored passages in the engine block andcrankshaft.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lubricating system' inwhich a gravity flow of lubricant is provided to the bearing surfaces ofthe engine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a splash lubricatingsystem which incorporates power driven means for insuring a constantsupply of lubricant to the splash elements.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an inexpensivelubricating system for an engine which is not operated for anysubstantial length of time, such as is the case with respect to anauxiliary starting engine for a compression ignition engine.

Other objects will appear as the description progresses.

Description of figures Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of aninternal combustion engine employing the novel lubricating systemdisclosed herein, the view being taken on the center line of thecrankshaft.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1,illustrating the lubricating system in plan.

Fig. 3 is a detailed section through the lubricant distributor taken onthe line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 4-4 in Fig. 1,disclosing the power driven means for supplying lubricant to the splashtroughs. v

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 5-5 in Fig. 1,illustrating the splash 5 trough construction and the bearing capextension which transfers lubricant from the trough.

Description of mechanism The internalcombustion engine disclosed hereinis of small size and of the type adapted for intermittent operation, asfor example, the auxiliary starting engine for a compression ignitionengine such as disclosed in the co-pending application of Carl G. A.Rosen, No. 684,179, filed August 8th, 1933. It is essential in this typeof engine that it be instantly available for service at all times, and,to avoid damage to the engine, it is necessary that a supply oflubricant be instantly available to the various bearing surfaces of theengine. In providing a lubricating 5 system for such an engine, itis-desirable to avoid an expensive construction and 'the expensivemachining processes which are necessarily present, where a lubricantpump is provided and bored passages are provided through the crankcaseand 10 the crankshaft. I

The lubricating system disclosed herein provides an instantly availablesource of lubricant for the bearing surfaces of the engine, thelubricant being supplied in part by a gravity flow of splashedlubricant. An auxiliary'lubricant reservoir is provided in the form oftroughs which are supplied with lubricant by power driven means and fromwhich lubricant is splashed to a distributor which conducts it tocertain of the bearing surfaces of the engine.

The internal combustion engine comprises combined crankcase and engineblock I0 (Fig. 1) on which head H is suitably secured. Cylinders l2 areprovided by internal walls of block I0 which receive pistons l3connected by rods M with crankshaft l6. Suitable intake and exhaustvalves and spark ignition means of conventional type may be provided, asshown, for example, in the above noted application.

Crankshaft l6 (Fig. 1) has main bearing portions l1 journaled inbushings l8 seated in respective bosses 2|, 22 of covers 23, 24, whichclose aligned apertures in the end walls of block Ill, being securedthereto by cap screws 26. Bosses 2|, 22. (Figs. 1 and 2) are provided atthe top with vertical flanges 21, 28, forming lubricant receiving cupsto which lubricant is supplied in a manner later described. It is to benoted that flange 28 is open at its outer end to transmit excesslubricant from the cup to the projecting end of the crankshaft. Withinthe cups, apertures 29 are provided to transmit lubricant therefrom tothe bearing surfaces of portions II. The right end of crankshaft l6 asviewed in Fig. 1 extends through boss 2| and has flywheel 31 securedthereon. Adjacent flywheel 3| spiral lubricant return grooves 32 areprovided on crankshaft l6, serving to' return lubricant through passage33, in boss 2 I to the lubricant sump formed by block I 0. At its leftend, crankshaft l6 extends through boss 22 andhas reduced portion 36having gear 31, lubricant thrower 38, and spacer 39 keyed thereonbetween nut 4| and the shoulder formed between bearing portion I1 andreduced portion 36. Cover 46 secured to cover 24' by screws 41 formstherewith an auxiliary housing secured to block I0 which houses adriveconnection to the cam-shaft, not shown, from gear 31. To the left ofnut4|, crankshaft I6 is formed at 48 to receive a drive connection forcranking the engine. Spacer 39 is engaged by seal 5| seated in'cover 46and held in place by retainer 52 and screws 53.

The lubricating system includes an auxiliary reservoir to whichlubricant is supplied by a power driven element and from which lubricantis conveyed by means of bearing cap extensions to the various bearingsurfaces of the crankshaft, adistributor being provided to receivethrown lubricant from the bearing cap extensions and convey it bygravity to the desired location. The auxiliary lubricant reservoircomprises pan BI (Figs. 1, 2 and 5) having cover 62 secured thereon bybolts 63 (Fig. 2). Cover 62 (Figs. 2 and 5) has bosses 64 threaded toreceive studs 66 extending through bosses 61 in block I0, spacers 68being interposed between bosses 64 and bosses 61. Pan 6| and cover 62are castings of aluminum or other suitable material of light weight.

Pan 6| is provided with .a lubricant conduit terminating in a lubricantinlet through which lubricant is supplied by a rotatable gear. Pan BI(Fig. 2) has longitudinal passage II which communicates through aperture12 with passage I3 leading to inlet I4 (Figs. 2, 4 and 5). Inlet I4 isformed by inwardly converging walls I6, 'I'I (Fig. 4) providing a funnelshaped inlet opening into which lubricant is thrown by gear I8 rotatablymounted on stub shaft I9 (Figs. 1 and 4) in boss 0| of block I0, gear I8being held thereon by head 82 of stub shaft I9 and nut 83. It is to benoted that stub shaft I9 also serves as a means for securing cover 24 toblock I 0. Gear I8 meshes with gear 84 on crankshaft I6, and, as itrotates, transfers lubricant through inlet I4, conduit I3, and opening",and conduit 'I'I.

Cover 62 (Figs. 1, 2 and 5) is provided with spaced trough portions 86which communicate with conduit II through respective apertures til. itis to be noted in Fig. 5 that inlet I4 is positioned a substantialdistance above troughs 86 so that, after lubricant is thrown into funnelshaped inlet I4 by thrower 18, a gravity flow is provided throughconduitI3 (Fig. 2), opening '12. conduit II, and apertures 81 into troughs 86.

Lubricant is transferred from the troughs by bearing cap. extensionswhich pass therethrough during rotation of the crankshaft. Eachconnectmg rod I4 (Fig. 5) terminates in bearing portion 9| to whichbearing cap 92 is secured by studs 93, whereby the connecting rod issecured to bearmg portion 94 of crankshaft I6. Bearing cap 92 hasintegral extension 96 and has opposite apertures 91 adjacent the foot ofthe leading and trailing edges of extension 96, through one of whichlubricant is transmitted to the connecting rod bearing surfaces of thecrankshaft. The pair of apertures 91 provide for assembly of bearing cap92 in reverse positions.

The bearing cap extensions or elements also,

provide means for transferring lubricant to the lubricant distributorwhich is secured to the wall of the block and transmits lubricant bygravity flow to certain bearing surfaces of the engine. Distributor IOI(Figs. 1, 2 and 3) includes arouate body portion I02; securedby boltsI03 toblock I0, said bolts also serving to secure cover I04 to saidblock; The concave surface of body portion I02 faces extensions 96during rotation thereof and receive the lubricant throwntherefrom,'certain lubricant also being received on the convex surfaceof body portion I02. At its .ends (Figs. 1 1 and 2) body portion I02terminates in downwardly extending triangular projections I05 havingtheir ends overlying respective lubricant receiv- 5 ing cups 21, 28whereby lubricant is transmitted to the bearing surfaces of main bearingportions H of the crankshaft. Integral with body portion I02-of thedistributor, trough portion I08 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) is provided, whichextends downwardly and outwardly, projecting at I09 within the auxiliaryhousing provided by covers 24, 46. The end of trough portion I08overlies gear 31 and the gear meshing therewith to supply lubricantthereto. Lubricant is returned from the auxiliary 15 housing to thelubricant sump formed in block I0 through apertures III (Figs. 1 and 4).From the foregoing, it is seen that the lubricant distributor or bafliehas a plurality of integral projections which overlie certain bearingportions 20 ing passages, and a cover for said tray havin troughsdisposed transversely of said crankshaft axis and having an openingcommunicating with said passages to allow flow of lubricant into saidtroughs; power driven means for supplying lubri cant to said inlet tofill said troughs; and bearing members engaging said connecting rodportions and having extensions adapted to dip into said troughs duringrotation of said crankshaft, said bearing members being aperturedadjacent the base of said extensions to conduct lubricant to the bearingsurfaces of said bearing members and said crankshaft.

2. In an internal combustion engine, a body portion; a crankshaft havingmain bearing portions, and connecting rod bearing portions; a lu- 5bricant reservoir comprising a tray secured to said body portion andspaced from the bottom thereof, said tray having lubricant iniet andconducting passages, and a cover for said tray havv ing troughs disposedtransversely of said crankshaft axis and having an opening communicatingwith said passages to allow flow of lubricant into said troughs; powerdriven means for supplying lubricant to said inlet to fill said troughs;bearing members engaging said connecting rod portions and havingextensions adapted to dip into said troughs during rotation of saidcrankshaft; and a lubricant distributor mounted on said body portionadapted to receive lubricant from said extensions and having downwardlyextending projections overlying said crankshaft mainbearing' portions.

3. in an internal combustion engine, a body portion; a crankshaft havingmain bearing portions, and connecting rod bearing portions; a lubricantreservoir comprising a tray secured to said body portion and spaced fromthe bottom thereof, said tray having lubricant inlet and conductingpassages, and a cover for said tray having troughs disposed transverselyof said crankshaft axis and having an opening communicating with saidpassages to allow flow of lubricant into said troughs; power drivenmeans for supplying lubricant to said inlet to fill said troughs;bearing members engaging said connecting rod portions 75 and havingextensions adapted to dip into said troughs during rotation of saidcrankshaft; and

a lubricant distributor mounted on said body portion adapted to receivelubricant from said extensions and having downwardly extendingprojections overlying said crankshaftmain bearing portions, said bearingmembers being apertured adjacent the leading side of said extensionstoconduct lubricant to said connecting rod bearing lying the bearingsurfaces 'of said crankshaft,

and a trough portion having an open end overly ing said gear. 5. In aninternal combustion engine, a lubricant reservoir, a crankshaftincludinga crank arm, a connecting rod, a reversible bearing cap forjournaling said rod on said am, said cap having an extension adapted topass through said reservoir upon rotation of said crankshaft, and havingconduits therein for transmitting lubricant from the leading side ofsaid extension in either mounted position of said cap, to the bearingsurface of said cap with said arm.-

6. In an auxiliary internal combustion engine adapted for starting amain engine, an engine block, a crankshaft having its end portionsjournaled in said block, a connectingrod hearing be]:

journaled on an intermediate crank portion of said crt, a lubricanttrough mounted above the bottom of said block and below said 5 cap, aconduit for conducting lubricant to said trough, a toothed lubricantthrower adjacent said conduit and driven from said crankshaft forcollecting lubricant from the bottom of said block and delivering saidlubricant into said conduit, a 10 projecton on said cap' adapted tocollect lubricant from said trough upon rotation of said crankshaft,said cap being apertured to allow passage of lubricant therethrough,anda distributor positioned adjacent the path of rotation of said pro- 15jection for receiving lubricant therefrom, said distributor having meansto conduct the lubricant to the end portions of the crankshaft.

7. In an internal combustion engine, a body portion; a crankshaft havingmain bearing por- 2o tions, and connecting rod bearing portions; alubricant reservoir comprising a tray secured to said body portion andspaced from the bottom thereof, said tray having lubricant inlet andconducting passages, and a cover for said tray having 25 troughsdisposed transversely of said crankshaft Y axis and having an openingcommunicating with said passages to allow flow of lubricant into saidJAMES M. DAVIES. 35

